Chandigarh, Sep 15 (IANS): Urging the farmers to refrain from burning paddy stubble, the Punjab government on Sunday appealed to the farmers to follow the philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev in reverence of 550th Prakash Purb celebrations of the first Sikh guru.

The state Cabinet last week passed a resolution by appealing to the farmers to do away with the unhealthy practice of stubble burning in line with upholding the Guru Nanak Dev's ideology to protect natural resources.

Describing the serious ill-effects of stubble burning, Secretary Agriculture K. S. Pannu said in a statement that due to stubble burning 30 kg of nitrogen per hectare, 13.8 kg of phosphorus, 30 kg of potassium and several useful microbial organisms are perished in fire, besides resulting in environmental pollution.

He called upon the farmers to replicate the modern practices propagated by innovative farmers so as to emerge as zero stubble burning state.

Pannu said 28,000 residue management machines would be provided to farmers involving a subsidy component of Rs 274 crore during this fiscal.

The subsidy ranging from 50 to 80 per cent is being provided under this scheme.